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Board approves assistant principal at Anchor Point, special-education position and high-school department heads in 2025–26 budget plans
Summary
Bennington Public Schools’ board approved three curriculum and personnel proposals recommended by the curriculum committee: (1) an assistant principal at Anchor Point to address rising enrollment, (2) an additional special-education position with 80% state reimbursement, and (3) a department-head structure at the high school. The board estimated a
The Bennington Public Schools Board of Education approved by roll call three curriculum and personnel items recommended by the curriculum committee for inclusion in the 2025–26 budget. The proposals are intended to respond to rising enrollment, address special-education needs, and create leadership opportunities for secondary teachers.
First, the board approved creating an assistant principal position at Anchor Point elementary school. The administration said Anchor Point’s enrollment rose by more than 70 students this year and that the building also houses the district preschool; the new assistant principal is intended to provide on-site instructional and operational leadership as enrollment grows.
Second, the board approved a special-education staffing addition. The administration said approximately 80% of the position’s cost is reimbursable under Nebraska state funding rules; the district presented the position as an offsetting expense that will carry partial state reimbursement.
Third, the board approved a proposal to implement department heads at the high school. The change would assign teacher-leader roles to provide an intermediate leadership layer (department-level problem-solving and instructional leadership) so building administrators can focus on schoolwide issues. The administration said the change will also create more leadership career paths for teachers.
The committee reported combined gross costs for the three proposals of about $247,000; after estimated state reimbursement and other offsets the net first-year cost to the general fund was presented as about $123,000. The curriculum committee and the finance committee discussed offsets (for example, preserving the preschool coordinator position) as part of the plan to reduce net additional cost.
Board members voted to accept the curriculum committee’s recommendations and to forward the proposals into the 2025–26 budget process. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all board members present voting yes.
What happens next: The approved positions and structural changes are contingent on final budget adoption for 2025–26; the board’s motion specified approval “pending 2025–26 budget approval.” Administration staff will return to the board with budget language and, where required, job descriptions and implementation timelines.
Votes and roll call: The roll-call vote recorded yes votes from Kristie, Joe, Steve, Allison Slobatsky, Jeremy, Tim, and Christie Ryan; the motion passed.
